Republican Attorney Generals Urge Restoration of Mifepristone Safety Protocols
In a recent letter, over 20 Republican Attorneys General have urged the Trump administration to reinstate safety measures for the abortion drug Mifepristone, citing serious risks to women’s health.
According to a letter acquired by Fox News Digital, 22 attorneys filed suit against Health and Human Services Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Administration Director Martin McCurry. They want to bring back safeguards that had been removed during both the Obama and Biden administrations.
The group highlighted findings from a comprehensive study on Mifepristone, stating that serious adverse events related to the drug occur 22 times more frequently than what is indicated on its labels. Many believe these statistics contradict claims that Mifepristone is “safe” and “effective.”
They pointed out in the EPPA report that around 10% of patients experience severe complications such as significant bleeding, emergency visits, or even ectopic pregnancies.
FDA Chief Maintains Current Policies
Kansas Attorney General Chris Kobach led the letter. Following this, Kennedy Jr. was urged to evaluate the latest data on Mifepristone’s safety.
FDA Chief Makary stated that there are currently no plans to modify policies related to abortion drugs but confirmed that safety reviews will continue. Based on the findings, they should consider reinstating safety protocols established in 2011 under the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). He suggested that if these protocols cannot be reinstated, the FDA might need to reconsider allowing Mifepristone on the market.
Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri also wrote to Kennedy Jr. last month, emphasizing the necessity of reviving safety measures for Mifepristone following the Secretary’s pledge to conduct a drug safety review.
While Makary previously indicated no intention to alter Mifepristone policies, he did mention the FDA would act if evidence of safety concerns arose.
Mifepristone, first approved by the FDA in 2000, is used to terminate early pregnancies in conjunction with another medication called misoprostol. Its approval came after a thorough review demonstrating its safety and effectiveness.
In a notable Supreme Court ruling last year, an attempt to limit access to Mifepristone was rejected. The plaintiffs sought to challenge its availability nationwide, even in Democratic-led states where abortion remains legal. The court didn’t address the legality of the FDA’s actions during the Obama era, which eased restrictions initially placed during the Clinton administration.
A report from the Guttmacher Institute noted that more than half of all abortions in the U.S. were performed using this method in 2023.
Medical Group Challenges FDA’s Broad Approval of Abortion Drugs
The letter from the 22 attorneys, spearheaded by Kobach, raises concerns about current abortion protocols. They argue that women can obtain Mifepristone through telehealth consultations and mail-order pharmacies, often without rigorous oversight.
They questioned the rationale behind the removal of crucial safety protocols in 2016 and again in 2023, suggesting that motivations other than patient safety may have influenced these decisions.
